Your legal counsel & business agents at Local 2

Ted Mansell , Business Agent

Before joining SEIU Local 2 BGPWU, Ted Mansell served simultaneously as both National Health & Safety Coordinator and as National Servicing Representative since the opening of the SEIU National Office in 1993. During his tenure at the National Office, Ted was responsible for occupational health & safety as well as workers’ compensation issues for SEIU members across the country.

As National Servicing Rep, Ted’s primary responsibilities were servicing assignments and contract negotiations on behalf of the National Union for many SEIU locals throughout Canada including Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.

Prior to joining SEIU Canada, Ted was a full-time staff representative with the Canadian Union of Public Employees and previously served as Special Projects Officer for CUPE Ontario. He attended Brock University and is also a graduate of the Labour College of Canada (1985).

Michael Keliher, Business agent & Legal Counsel

Michael has been with SEIU Local 2’s Nova Scotia office since 2013.

Prior to joining SEIU, Michael worked at a law firm in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Prince Edward Island, his Bachelor or Laws from the University of New Brunswick, and his Master of Laws from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, where the focus of his studies was Labour and Employment Law.

Michael lives in Dartmouth with his wife, Margaret. In his spare time, Michael enjoys playing and watching all kinds of sports, DIY projects, and spending time with family and friends.

Ruth Silva-Smith, Business Agent & Legal Agent

Alain Lajoie, Business Agent

Allen Ferens, Special Representative

Brother Ferens has had a long and distinguished history of service with SEIU. After graduating from York University he started his career in 1980 as a Union Organizer. After spending 9 years in that position he went on to work for 10 years as a Business Agent predominantly representing workersin the private sector. In 1998 Brother Ferens was appointed Secretary Treasurer of SEIU Local 204 and in 2004 he was appointed Secretary Treasurer of the newly created SEIU Local 1.on.

Following his desire to once again represent workers in the private sector Allen joined SEIU Local 2.on, BGPWU in August 2005. His responsibilities include first contract negotiations.

Jeff Rooney, Business Agent

Jeff services our Northern Ontario/Lake Superior units from the Local 1 Thunder Bay office. Jeff is a graduate of the Human Resource management/Industrial Relations program at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. While obtaining his education, he organized his workplace, The Brick Warehouse, with SEIU Local 268 in 1993. He was elected as Chief Steward of his workplace and then to the Executive Board of the Local in 1994. He was hired as Union Representative for SEIU Local 220 in 1997 and took residence in Sarnia.

He moved back to Thunder Bay in 1998 when hired as Union Representative for his former Local 268. He has had the opportunity to service members from numerous sectors which has aided in his overall abilities as a Representative. Jeff loves living in Northern Ontario where he spends his spare time fishing

Gerard Higgins, Business Agent

Halifax Office, Gerard has held numerous positions in the labour movement since 1979, including as a previous Vice President on the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour. Gerard joined SEIU in 2000 when he became the Business Agent for Local 902 in

Nicole Veitch, business agent & legal council

Prior to joining SEIU Local 2 Nicole articled and worked at Cavalluzzo LLP where she worked on a variety of social justice legal issues including labour, pension, pay equity, Charter, civil and employment law.

Nicole graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2015. As a law student, she worked at a poverty law clinic in the Immigration / Refugee and the Social Assistance Violence and Health divisions. At the clinic, Nicolerepresented low-income community members before tribunals and through judicial review applications, in addition to organizing community legal education events and appearing before Parliamentary Standing Committees on immigration.